Pharrell Fashion 2000s Pharrell Ice Cream

Words by @samutaro

The story of Pharrell Williams and NIGO's friendship is ane of hearts and minds. For the by 20 years, the dynamic duo accept established themselves as the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in street culture, influencing not but one anothers creative output and personalities, merely helping shape design, fashion and contemporary lifestyle in the procedure.

The run across betwixt the ii visionaries was more chance. When Pharrell visited Nihon for the showtime fourth dimension in 2003, he already knew of NIGO through Jacob, the jeweller who made pieces for them both and had suggested they meet because they had much in common. Pharrell had made a name for himself through music and NIGO through his connection to fashion, but it was the BAPE founder's low-cardinal obsession with Pharrell'southward style, in particular his jewellery that led them to connect. "Jacob used to tell me at that place's this guy in Nippon you've got to meet," Pharrell detailed in a 2016 episode of OTHERtone with NIGO and Scott Vener. "He brings in photos of you with your jewellery and the but thing is he buys what you make simply he besides gets information technology in different colours. Yous've got to come across him."

Information technology was during this exchange that Pharrell revealed the first run across came virtually when he visited NIGO at his recording studio in the former Nowhere offices in Tokyo and discovered the treasure trove of items hidden within the showroom and archive. It was a blazon of museum in which NIGO kept a part of pop civilisation history, The Beatles' instruments, art pieces, celebrated wear items, toys, arcades, jewels, alongside the latest collections from BAPE. "I've never seen anything similar this in my life," the Neptunes legend recalls. Information technology was the starting time of a human relationship that has taken them to collaborate in music and fashion, to create Billionaire Boys Social club and form alliances with Louis Vuitton, Uniqlo, Adidas and the trajectory of his life.

Nowhere Tokyo Showroom 1998 [images past Wonderwall]

In Pharrell'due south Rizzoli book, "Pharrell: Places and Spaces I've Been," he describes the fruition of BBC as the ripening of his sense of taste buds and personality, and attributes this to the experiences he first shared with NIGO. "The most memorable affair for me is the culture that NIGO introduced me to," he recalls. "I learned about a lot of new things that are important to who I am today. I met someone who believed in me and introduced me to new fine art, design, fashion, food…some of the best food ever - i started eating sushi considering of NIGO." The creative commutation was mutual. NIGO admitted in the book that his fame and bear on couldn't have been accomplished without Pharrell's recognition and collaboration. "I wouldn't exist who I am today if I hadn't met him and worked. I don't retrieve I could have fabricated it out of Japan: that was something I actually wanted to achieve."

From the iconic BBC astronaut logo, to those LV Millionaire sunglasses, Water ice Cream sneakers and insane shop fits, the pair created some of the most iconic objects and experiences in street culture. But across the global hits they imagined together, it's their friendship in the public eye that has been most enduring for fans. The 2 were almost inseparable during the early on to mid 00s, regularly actualization together at high contour events in coordinated fits from their respective brands. Their attendance on the red carpeting at the MTV VMA's in 2006 is mayhap i of the most memorable with each dripped downwardly in the latest BAPE, BBC and Water ice Cream. It'southward a expect that continues to exist circulated today on pages similar @hidden.ny , @icecreambillionaire and @startraknerd which celebrate the all inspiring universe NIGO and Pharrell have created together.

The bond between them has never waivered, and today they remain as loyal and supportive of each other's practices. Whether they are collaborating between Human Race and Human Made, creating friendship packs together with Adidas or but rocking each other'south gear, it'due south obvious that there is a mutual want to build and grow together as their friendship evolves. Hither nosotros take a look back on their friendship and some of the incredible projects they've created together.

Pharrell & Nigo interview on OTHERtone on Beats1 ten Takashi Murakami, Verbal & Yoon, Nigo and Toby